Sifter



(No Model.)

F. A. IDDINGS'.

SIFTER.

Patented Aug. 6, 1895 *Units rames ATENT FFrcE..

vFRANK ALBERT IDDINGS, OF WARREN, OHIO.

SIFTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent' No. 544,257, dated August6, 1895.

Appnc'anuieanpril 6,1895. aannam/1,767. (Nomade.)

To aZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK ALBERT ID- DINGS, of Warrem'in the countyofTru mbull and State of Ohio,have invented certain new Vand usefulImprovements in Sifters; and I do retention in position of thesifting-wheel, and

to enable the sieve to be easily removed for the purpose of cleansing orrepairing.

A further object is to facilitate the construction of the parts, andalso to reduce the cost thereof to a minimum and render the sifter freefrom all complications and insure the durability and thorough workingthereof.

To these ends the invention comprises the novel features of constructionand the detail combination and arrangement of parts, silbstantially ashereinafter fully set forth,and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a vertical sectional view of myimproved sifter. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the false bottom, showingthe sieve and sifting-wheel and a portion of the operating-shaft of thelatter. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the wheel. Fig. 4 isa View of the sieveremoved. Fig. 5 is a detail.

Referring to the drawings, Adesignates the can or receptacle, which ispreferably cylindrical and can be of any desired capacity. a is thecover therefor.

B is the false bottom, which is of bell shape and stamped out of onecontinuous piece of metal. At the vertex of the concaved portion of thisbell-shaped bottom is a circular opening b. In this opening is designedto t a ring b', carrying a sieve or screen b2, the upper end b4 of saidring being flanged and resting upon the bottom B surrrounding theopening b thereof. Thus the sieve or screen is rendered removable, asthe surrounding ring thereof merely rests upon the bottom B around theopening of the latter. In vthe center of this sieve or screen is abushing C having a central opening therein.

D is the sifting-Wheel, the diameter of which is such as to allow of itstilting within the ring of the sieve orv screen. From the hub or centerof this wheel extend upper and lower lugs d d', the latter fitting snugwithin the bushing C ofthe sieve or screen. This serves to hold thewheel in place and prevents its displacement when being rotated andreduces the friction to a minimum. From the rim or one of the spokes ofthe wheel D extends an agitating-arm d2, which in general. outlineconforms to the contour of the bell-shaped bottom B. lThis arm isdesigned to travel directly above and almost in contact with the falsebottom, so that as the wheel is rotated said arm agitates the our or thelike and causes the same to fall on the sieve or screen and is forcedthrough the latter by the wheel D.

Epis a flexible operating-shaft, the lower end of which is secured to'the upper lug d of wheel D, while its upper end is connected to a shortshaft e fitted. in asleeve or bushing e', which is secured to the sideof the can or receptacle A, an operating-handle e2 being fitted on theouter end of said short shaft e. For the purpose of facilitating theconstruction or formation of this flexible shaft Iform the upper lng dof wheel D with a groove or notchf, in which is designed to tit thelowerv reduced end of a mandrel F, a portion of which is shown in Fig.5. When this mandrel is made to engage the lug d, the wiref of which theflexible shaftE is composed can be easily wound around said lug andmandrel. After the formation of the shaft is completed the mandrel isremoved. This is a point of great advantage in the construction of thesitter.

G is the pan or drawer for receiving the sifted substances, and islocated on the bottom of can or receptacle A beneath the false bottom B.It is removablev through an opening in the can or receptacle A.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart to which it,

appertains. By making the sieve or screen IOC removable the same can beeasily cleaned and repaired, and by providing said sieve or screen witha central bushing to accommodate the lower lug of the Wheel the latteris held to its position during the sifting operation and is preventedfrom jumping out of place, as otherwise often occurs, and friction isreduced to a minimum. The agitating-arm is preferably formed with thesifting-Wheel,orit may be secured thereto, and, as before stated,conforms in general outline to the contour of the false bottom, so as toinsure the proper agitation of the substance to be sifted and preventthe lodgment thereof 0n the concaved portion of said bottom.

A sifter constructed as herein described is extremely simple andinexpensive, and the parts can be readily and easily put together andalso quickly removed for the purpose of cleansing or repairing. Byremoving the crankoperating handle from the short shaft at the upper endof the flexible shaft thelatter can be readily removed from its upperbearing and it, together with the sifting-wheel, removable sieve, andbushing can be taken from the can or receptacle.

I claim as my inventionl. In a sifter having acentrally locatedremovable sieve provided with a central hole or opening', a siftingwheel located over said sieve and having a lower lug fitted in said holeor opening, and also provided with an upper lug, an agitator armextending from said wheel, and a flexible operating shaft carrying amandrel adapted to engage the upper lug of said agitator wheel,substantially as set forth.

2. In a sifter having abell-shaped false bottom provided with a centralopening, a sieve or screen removably fitted in said opening and providedwith an upper flange resting on said bottom, a sifting wheel above saidscreen having an arm extending therefrom and designed to move over thelower portion of said bottom, and a flexible operating shaft carrying amandrel adapted to engage said wheel, substantially as set forth.

3. The herein-described improved sitter, comprising the can orreceptacle having a false-bottom of approximately bell-shape andprovided with a central hole or opening, a ring having an upper flangedend designed to fit in said hole or opening, and having asieve orscreen, a central bushing supported by said sieve or screen, a siftingwheel above the latter having a lower lug fitted in said bushing, and anupper opposite lug, a flexible shaft composed of a continuous Wire, amandrel carried by said flexible shaft and adapted to engage said upperlug, an agitating arm extending from said wheel over the lower portionof said false bottom, a bushing secured to the side of said can orreceptacle, a short shaft supported by said bushing and having the upperend of said flexible shaft connected thereto, and the crank-operatinghandle attached to the outer end of said short shaft, substantially asset forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscrib- -ing witnesses.

FRANK ALBERT IDDINGS.

Witnesses:

W. T. IDDiNGs, GEO. W. UPTON.

